To the Editor: Threats to the Kishwaukee River? Reply from Trim-Rite Foods

Trim-Rite Foods is planning to operate a state-of-the-art, world-class hog processing facility in DeKalb. We compete on the basis of quality, not price, and hygiene, precision and cleanliness are central to the success of our business.

An article by the “Quad Cities WaterKeeper” last week erroneously compared our tiny, boutique operation to Tyson Foods’ mega-plant and to hog farms. These comparisons are utterly misleading. Unlike Tyson’s facilities, which handle tens of thousands of chickens daily, or a hog farm where thousands of hogs spend their whole lives prior to harvesting, our plant will handle only about 2,000 animals a day—and even then there will be no hogs on site for 15 hours a day.

All of our operations are enclosed, and all of our facilities are cleaned daily, with the water going through not one but two treatment systems. We are employing state-of-the-art European technology to maximize cleanliness and to minimize stress to the animals—not only because it is the right thing to do but because a clean facility produces better meat, increasing the value of our product.

Our facility represents a $9 million investment in the economy of DeKalb, and is bringing 42 jobs with an annual payroll of almost $1.3 million. In these times of economic trouble, we are proud to be bringing that kind of opportunity to the community, just as we are proud of the environmental safety of our current and planned facilities.

One thought on “To the Editor: Threats to the Kishwaukee River? Reply from Trim-Rite Foods”

Wow, you are proud to be bringing 42 NON LIVING wage jobs to our community? 24,000 $ a year is not a fair wage and will only attract migrant workers. Boutique slaughterhouse…is this some sort of joke? You will be bringing in 2,000 smelly hogs a day, how is that a boutique operation? ZERO hogs will come from Dekalb County and does not support LOCAL farmers. Continue to insult the intellignece of the Dekalb County community and you will be sorry Mr. Jendruczek. Our neighborhood is organizing and we will stop this ridiculous proposal.